Researchers uncovered the oldest known complex three-dimensional burrow systems in Hubei's Shibantan Biota, dating back approximately 550 million years. These trace fossils show that complex animal behaviors emerged nearly 10 million years earlier than previously thought.
Researchers at Chinese Academy of Sciences identify a key gene and protein involved in controlling DNA looping, leading to increased grain yield and nitrogen efficiency. The discovery paves the way for future crop breeding strategies to improve sustainability.
A new study published in Nature Geoscience reveals that China's cropland soils have stabilized in pH levels since 2013, linked to agricultural policy reforms. However, recovery has been slow and uneven across different types of farmland, with paddy fields showing signs of improvement but dryland soils remaining acidic.
A recent study found that plasticine models, commonly used in ecological experiments, may not accurately capture real-world biotic interactions due to their reliance on visual cues. The research team deployed over 2,400 models across two habitats and found similar attack rates regardless of color, shape, or size.
Scientists have discovered olivine-bearing clasts from a lunar regolith sample, shedding light on the migration of Carbonaceous Ivuna-type chondrites to the Earth-Moon System. The findings provide new insights into the origin of water on the lunar surface.
Researchers found that tumor-associated macrophages produce acetate through a metabolic interaction involving lactate and the lipid peroxidation–ALDH2 pathway. This acetate promotes histone H3 acetylation and epithelial-mesenchymal transition in hepatocellular carcinoma cells, enhancing metastasis.
Researchers have unveiled the molecular mechanisms underlying L1's retrotransposition and integration into genomic DNA. The study reveals that ORF2p interacts primarily with the DNA backbone through electrostatic forces, enabling site-specific cleavage during retrotransposition.
The study identified MYB61-PS1 as a critical regulatory module shaping the 3D structure of xylem vessel pits in rice, improving yield by sustaining vessel hydraulics and facilitating nitrogen transport. Rice plants harboring PS1 Hap2 displayed significantly improved nitrogen transport efficiency, leading to increased grain yield.
Researchers found that increased canopy structural complexity drives positive biodiversity-productivity relationships in forests. Complementary use of canopy space by tree species enhances productivity and strengthens over time.
A new method has been developed to generate induced natural killer cells and CAR-engineered NK cells from cord blood-derived hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells. This approach increases the induction efficiency of NK cells and lowers the cost of CAR engineering, offering a promising avenue for cancer immunotherapy.
Researchers have created a new system, GRAPE, that enables rapid and scalable directed evolution of genes directly in plant cells. This allows for the efficient generation of genetic variants with new properties, such as disease resistance, to enhance crop sustainability.
Researchers discovered that the functional splitting of transposon-derived RNAs drove the emergence of Type V CRISPR-Cas immunity. This innovation enabled the development of compact nucleases with flexible guide RNAs, offering design principles to create smaller and more versatile CRISPR tools.
A reanalysis of the one-million-year-old Yunxian 2 skull from China suggests a new branch in the human family tree and a possible link to Denisovans. The study proposes that the split between modern humans, Neanderthals, and this Asian clade occurred much earlier than previously thought.
The study proposes a clear, four-stage sequence showing how chewing and hearing functions were gradually split between jaw and ear. The discoveries of unique jaw joints in fossil specimens reveal multiple independent origins for jaw joint types and expand our understanding of mammalian evolution.
Researchers have identified a new population of hypothalamic neurons, Crabp1 neurons, that play a critical role in regulating energy expenditure. Silencing these neurons leads to reduced energy expenditure and obesity, while activating them enhances locomotor activity and protects against high-fat diet-induced weight gain.
Researchers have discovered how Fusobacterium nucleatum binds to human cell receptors CEACAM1 and CEACAM5, which are frequently overexpressed on many types of cancer cells. This binding mechanism is crucial for developing novel antitumor therapies.
Researchers have uncovered the step-by-step process of gas transport to form accretion disks in massive star-forming regions. The study reveals a striking layered system of gas flows, including spiral-like streams and a bar-like structure that funnels gas toward the center.
Researchers developed a dynamic soft electrode called NeuroWorm that enables wireless steering of implanted devices via external magnetic fields. This allows for noninvasive repositioning of implants, potentially eliminating surgeries due to drift or misplacement.
The researchers developed a novel cell-surface protein engineering strategy called PATCH, which applies proximity labeling to immunomodulation for the first time. This approach directly amplifies targeting signals on the tumor cell surface, identifying cells that need to be attacked by the immune system.
Researchers discovered the largest eukaryotic photosystem I-fucoxanthin-chlorophyll supercomplex in coccolithophores, which can expand its light-harvesting cross-section by three to four times while maintaining over 95% energy conversion efficiency.
Researchers have discovered a large pipe swarm with remnants of hydrogen hydrothermal activity west of the Mussau Trench. The discovery suggests that a huge amount of hydrogen may have been formed deep in the ocean lithospheric mantle, potentially leading to economically mineable reserves.
A new study reveals a hidden extinction crisis in China's native flora, showing that habitat decline over the past four decades has sharply increased extinction risks nationwide. The findings suggest that current conservation efforts are failing to keep pace with biodiversity threats.
Researchers in Chinese cities have found a distinct chemical regime governing the formation of secondary organic aerosols, driven by high VOC concentrations and gaseous nitrous acid. This shift is attributed to complex interactions between atmospheric environmental factors, which accelerate SOA formation and intensify regional pollution.
A new exosome-based therapeutic agent has been developed to treat traumatic CNS injuries, alleviating neuronal apoptosis and restoring glial homeostasis. The treatment, SeNExo, promotes neuronal repair and reduces oxidative damage, showing potent therapeutic benefits in mouse models.
The Jiangmen Underground Neutrino Observatory (JUNO) has successfully completed its 20,000-ton liquid scintillator detector filling and started data taking. This achievement marks a significant step towards answering fundamental questions about the nature of matter and the universe.
A team of Chinese scientists has developed a high-performance iron-based catalyst for proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs), which could potentially reduce reliance on scarce and expensive platinum. The new design enables record efficiency and long-term durability, achieving an oxygen reduction overpotential as low as 0.34 V.
A recent study published in Nature Communications has made a groundbreaking discovery about the contribution of phytoplankton to the global carbon cycle. Phytoplankton can directly pump stubborn carbon into the ocean, where it may persist for centuries, contradicting decades of conventional scientific wisdom.
A new study reveals that heat can transform refractory organic matter into forms usable by microbes living far below the seafloor. This process, known as carbon-reactivation, occurs at temperatures above 35 °C and provides a significant energy source for deep Earth ecosystems.
Research finds that microbial carbon use efficiency rises following abrupt permafrost thaw, driven by shifts in community composition and nutrient availability. This increase may promote the incorporation of microbial-derived compounds into soil, fostering stable carbon formation.
A new study found that long-term biochar application can sustainably boost crop yields by 10.8% and cut greenhouse gas emissions like methane and nitrous oxide by 13.5% and 21.4%. Biochar's benefits on soil health and carbon sequestration are also significant, with increased soil organic carbon content by 52.5%.
Researchers have developed a new way to 'edit' the internal layers of MAX phases, leading to the creation of novel layered inorganic materials. The discovery enables the transformation of covalent-bonded ternary compounds into 2D materials with tunable properties.
Researchers have discovered a way to turn material defects into an advantage for spintronic devices. By exploiting these imperfections, the team was able to boost both orbital Hall conductivity and angle, leading to a threefold improvement in switching energy efficiency.
Scientists have developed a system that uses gene editing to create flowers that can be easily pollinated by AI-controlled robots, addressing a long-standing pollination hurdle. This breakthrough reduces manual labor costs in crops like tomatoes and soybeans, and has the potential to increase crop yields and improve sustainability.
A new deep-sea hydrothermal system was discovered in the Western Pacific, producing massive hydrogen emissions. The Kunlun system is notable for its exceptionally high hydrogen flux and unique geological setting.
Researchers have developed novel methods to advance precise chromosomal manipulation by addressing challenges in the Cre-Lox system. Their innovations include asymmetric Lox site design and a protein-directed evolution system, enabling targeted integration of large DNA fragments up to 18.8 kb.
The study reveals a spatiotemporal separation in the processing of distinct pre-rRNAs within the nucleolus, contradicting traditional models. The findings suggest that small subunit (SSU) pre-rRNA is predominantly processed within the inner FC–PDFC regions, while large subunit (LSU) pre-rRNA matures gradually in the outer PDFC–GC regions.
A new study by Chinese researchers uses high-resolution satellite data to quantify global methane emissions from landfills, revealing open dumps emit 4.8 times more methane than engineered sanitary landfills.
Researchers have used a dynamic global wetland water level dataset to assess the spatiotemporal dynamics of wetland carbon sequestration. They found that tropical wetlands contribute 70% to global C sequestration, with South America, Asia, and Africa being the top three continents.
Researchers developed a new microscope that enables high-speed, large-field-of-view visualization of neurovascular activity in awake mice. The LiTA-HM system captures capillary-scale vascular networks and single-neuron soma details across the entire cortex with 6-μm spatial resolution.
Researchers at Chinese Academy of Sciences Headquarters demonstrate quantum confinement in a new covalent organic framework without shrinking the material. The framework exhibits exceptional photoluminescence properties, making it suitable for applications such as lighting devices and chemical sensors.
A team of scientists proposes an integrated framework combining biotechnology and AI to revolutionize crop breeding, exploring multi-omics, genome editing, and high-throughput phenotyping. The authors present a forward-looking framework for AI-assisted crop germplasm design, offering a roadmap for sustainable agriculture.
Researchers discovered that approximately 436-million-year-old brachiopods formed a non-random, checkerboard-like pattern due to their tiny setae, which allowed them to maintain optimal spacing. This study provides rare evidence of ancient communities being shaped by biological interactions.
Researchers at the Chinese Academy of Sciences have discovered aluminium-20, an unstable isotope that decays via three-proton emission. The study provides insights into the structure and decay of nuclei beyond the proton drip line, shedding light on isospin symmetry breaking.
The study reveals highly refined axon targeting and arborization in primates, with distinct PFC neuron subtypes projecting to different brain regions. This finding suggests a modular network of intra-PFC connections providing a structural basis for working memory.
Researchers have discovered a new way microbes derive energy from chemical reactions driven by crustal faulting in deep subsurface areas. This process produces hydrogen and oxidants, sustaining microbial metabolism in the deep biosphere.
A recent study identified 37 human-specific genes linked to brain development and cognitive abilities, which are hijacked by cancer to drive tumor growth. The researchers discovered nearly half of these genes become aberrantly activated in cancerous tissues, promoting tumor cell proliferation.
Researchers discovered an unexpectedly complex and dynamic filamentary network within a very-high-velocity cloud (VHVC) in the Milky Way using the FAST telescope. The study found that the cloud is primarily composed of warm neutral medium (WNM), with little or no cold component, suggesting a cleaner, earlier phase in cloud evolution.
The world's first thousand-ton-scale ionic liquid-based regenerated cellulose fiber project has officially commenced operations in Henan Province, China. The technology uses non-volatile, stable ionic liquids as solvents to replace toxic solvents, reducing carbon dioxide emissions by an estimated 5,000 tons per year.
Researchers developed a biomimetic physical barrier that temporarily blocks T cell-tumor cell interactions, delaying exhaustion and enabling a stronger immune response. The breakthrough strategy can potentially be combined with other immunotherapeutic approaches to enhance treatment efficacy.
Researchers have developed a novel electrified catalysis strategy that removes more CO2 and CH4 from the atmosphere than it emits, resulting in net-negative greenhouse gas emissions. The process converts these compounds into syngas with an impressive energy utilization rate of 80%.